Orange is the New Black or what are the reviewers thinking?

I have looked at the reviews for ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (OINB) and I am a bit bewildered by the high ratings.  Plus I thought this was a show that would appeal to women?  Again it is full of stereotypes.  Girl gang vs girl gang, instantly hot TV sex, crazy Russians, racial stereotypes, juvenile behaviors, Piper's x-ray mother, rich girl problems and an emasculated ex-boyfriend.  

Why is this interesting?  I guess it is more of the same from last season - thus familiar?  However because I am only on Season 2 show 5 -- I keep thinking that something is going to happen.  But my dread-o-meter is telling me that it is going to be more of the same.  Could I be wasting my time?  

I'm getting as frustrated as the OINB characters in prison and that isn't sufficient to peak my interest.  There isn't enough intrigue in the storyline to move me to watch the next episode.  (Wow, I actually said that!)  But there is something that is compelling me on -- could it be familiar territory?

Ok, so perhaps Piper has found her inner demon and has become a multi-dimensional nitwit with a shadow side?  Or is she just a fool for love that took out her rage on an easy target?  I am leaning towards the latter.  

It seems that producer Jenji Kohan's WEEDS had a bit more character development with plenty of grey areas to play with.  I actually thought Mary Louise Parker was quite the empowered lioness of a mom. She would stop at nothing to save her family and that kept my interest.  WEEDS was the foreshadowing of BREAKING BAD and its main character's desperate progress to save what is dear to them, however self-important they become later.

Meanwhile, Piper is still a wussy rich girl without much street cred and she keeps stumbling along from disaster to disaster.  I don't think another showdown with a hillbilly is going to give her the authority or transformation that Piper's ordeals deserve.

Anyway on a technical note: acting is meh and contrived, production value has declined, directing is minimal. I give OINB -- C+ for trying.  

Will I watch OINB again?  Well, maybe, after some time away, so I can grow fond of the characters again.






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